Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .356 | 122gr | Rim Rock TC bullet and 54 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol and Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star.
Important Notice: DO NOT go below Minimum Charge or above Maximum Charge. Since we have no control over the equipment and components used, any responsibility and liability for the results achieved is rejected.
Only powders/loads that match the current filter criteria are displayed: max pressure of a load ≤ 90% of max. standardized pressure, fill rate ≥ 60% and propellant combustion ≥ 80%. Use the sliders above the tables to adjust these thresholds.
Charge: Powder weight in grains. Start with the minimum load and work up carefully.
FR (Fill Rate): Case fill as a percentage. Values above 100% mean compressed loads.
MaxP / %: Maximum chamber pressure in bar and as a percentage of the standardized maximum for this caliber.
V(0): Muzzle velocity in feet per second (fps) at the standardized barrel length.
z (Powder Burn): Estimated propellant combustion percentage at bullet exit.
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Max Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,545 psi | 90% | 1335 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,545 psi | 90% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,703 psi | 84% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,282 psi | 83% | 1365 fps | 92.8% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,342 psi | 89% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,429 psi | 89% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,572 psi | 84% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,269 psi | 89% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,805 psi | 85% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,008 psi | 88% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,371 psi | 89% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,298 psi | 86% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,936 psi | 88% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,297 psi | 83% | 1404 fps | 91.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,964 psi | 85% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,530 psi | 90% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,950 psi | 85% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,472 psi | 86% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,631 psi | 87% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,616 psi | 84% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,618 psi | 90% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,110 psi | 88% | 1388 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,779 psi | 43% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,007 psi | 82% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,557 psi | 81% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,472 psi | 86% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,414 psi | 86% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,630 psi | 81% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,907 psi | 88% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,052 psi | 88% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,776 psi | 87% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,792 psi | 90% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,474 psi | 40% | 951 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,240 psi | 89% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,211 psi | 89% | 1476 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,733 psi | 87% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,574 psi | 90% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,617 psi | 87% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,443 psi | 86% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,660 psi | 84% | 1345 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,964 psi | 85% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,456 psi | 81% | 1404 fps | 93.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,530 psi | 90% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,530 psi | 90% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,023 psi | 88% | 1407 fps | 90.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,499 psi | 81% | 1348 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,690 psi | 90% | 1430 fps | 88% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,253 psi | 83% | 1447 fps | 90.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,674 psi | 84% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,123 psi | 83% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,777 psi | 90% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,907 psi | 88% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,443 psi | 86% | 1378 fps | 98.7% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,485 psi | 84% | 1293 fps | 100% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,972 psi | 62% | 1165 fps | 97.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,481 psi | 66% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,695 psi | 55% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 18,811 psi | 55% | 1161 fps | 85.5% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,513 psi | 78% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,005 psi | 73% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,685 psi | 69% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,046 psi | 65% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,337 psi | 68% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,913 psi | 55% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,178 psi | 71% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,640 psi | 63% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 5.7 gr | 60% | 13,387 psi | 39% | 997 fps | 94.3% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 20,044 psi | 59% | 1224 fps | 85.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,567 psi | 63% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,398 psi | 80% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,507 psi | 54% | 1142 fps | 98.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,074 psi | 62% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.4 gr | 60% | 13,227 psi | 39% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,597 psi | 66% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,696 psi | 58% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,237 psi | 77% | 1316 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,991 psi | 21% | 705 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,263 psi | 65% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,698 psi | 64% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,361 psi | 51% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,666 psi | 55% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,334 psi | 60% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,017 psi | 65% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,831 psi | 73% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,310 psi | 77% | 1302 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,424 psi | 72% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,411 psi | 19% | 689 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,447 psi | 48% | 1109 fps | 98.7% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,447 psi | 45% | 1155 fps | 87.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,709 psi | 52% | 1086 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,321 psi | 65% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,466 psi | 63% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,063 psi | 76% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,678 psi | 43% | 1030 fps | 87.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,610 psi | 60% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,275 psi | 54% | 1198 fps | 86.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,161 psi | 62% | 1194 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,667 psi | 58% | 1145 fps | 99.2% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,163 psi | 68% | 1270 fps | 85.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,737 psi | 49% | 1115 fps | 91% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,383 psi | 80% | 1371 fps | 85.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 92% | 22,742 psi | 67% | 1335 fps | 86.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,916 psi | 67% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.2 gr | 60% | 11,574 psi | 34% | 863 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,466 psi | 63% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,927 psi | 56% | 1135 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,504 psi | 43% | 1053 fps | 88.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,347 psi | 54% | 1106 fps | 100% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
* not dangerous but load has suboptimal powder burnt with possible characteristics such as extensive muzzle flash or inaccurate loads.
² fill rate low - you might want to consider using a filler to ensure proper ignition.
ᴾ possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.
This overview compares 54 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .356 | 122gr | Rim Rock TC. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,476 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 951 fps to 1,476 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 15 of the 54 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 40–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Vihtavuori N105 reach 100 % fill or more at maximum charge, so these are compressed loads: they need a long drop tube to seat cleanly and react sensitively to the case capacity of your own brass lot. Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .356 | 122gr | Rim Rock TC they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ADI AP 100, Alliant POWER PISTOL, SNPE Vectan SP 2 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate Solo 1000, Accurate Solo 1250, ADI APS 350 stay subsonic at start load. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.